ALP leadership could be decided by draw from a hat

In the unlikely event Labor's leadership ballot ended in a tie that could not be broken, the result could be decided by picking a name out of a hat, returning officer Bob Sercombe said today.

Mr Sercombe, a Victorian backbencher and former supporter of incumbent Simon Crean, said there were no rules to dictate the next move if the 92 members of caucus were evenly divided between Kim Beazley and Mark Latham.

"If there is a draw, as I see it, there is no provision in the caucus rules for that," Mr Sercombe said.

"So on the principle that caucus is the master of its own destiny, it would be, I think, a case for a further ballot or, alternatively, if a tie persisted, it would have to be drawn out of a hat.

"I think it will be fairly close, but that situation is inherently unlikely."

The name-from-a-hat option had a precedent in a tied 1985 Victorian Upper House election, when a returning officer drew the winner between two candidates.

However, it was unclear today whether all 92 Labor senators and MPs would vote.

Northern Territory MP Warren Snowdon cut short a three month trip to New York and flew back to Canberra at his own expense to vote for Mr Latham, the opposition's treasury spokesman.

But it was not clear late today whether Carmen Lawrence, believed to be a supporter of Mr Beazley, would make it from Perth, where her mother's funeral was held today.

Mr Beazley and Mr Latham are the only candidates to show their hands so far, but every member of caucus will have the opportunity to nominate themselves tomorrow.

"I've heard no suggestion since Kevin Rudd indicated he wasn't going to run that there is a third candidate or fourth of fifth," Mr Sercombe said.

Two sets of ballot papers have been printed in expectation that there will be only two candidates.

Mr Beazley's name appears at the top on one set and Mr Latham's on top of the second.

A draw will decide which set is used and members of caucus will mark their choice with the figure one.

New ballot papers will have to be printed if a third candidate decides to run.

A third candidate would also rule out the possibility of a tie.

A tie after preferences were counted would be decided by the highest number of primary votes.

The ballot is expected to be held soon after the caucus meeting begins at 9.30am.

Standing orders will be suspended and Mr Crean will be called on to report.

Mr Crean is expected to make some comments to his parliamentary colleagues before he announces he intends to vacate his position.